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Wrigley Building


Wrigley Building
Photo Information
Copyright: Lucio Red (Redrubin) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 749 W: 39 N: 1228] (8596)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05-23
Categories: Architecture
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/125 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-05-12 4:13
Viewed: 344
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Wrigley Building

The Jewel of "The Mile"

The gleaming white Wrigley Building is one of America’s most famous office towers. Located on Michigan Avenue on the north bank of the Chicago River, at the southern most point of Chicago's Magnificent Mile, the Wrigley Building consists of two sections connected by an open walkway at street level and two enclosed walkways.

History
The land for the building, chosen by William Wrigley Jr., is unique because of its triangular shape. Mr. Wrigley’s goal was to create an impressive headquarters for his successful chewing gum company and the northwest corner of Michigan Avenue was the perfect location. During January 1920, when excavation for the building began, the Michigan Avenue Bridge was under construction, and the portion of the avenue north of the river was then known as Pine Street. The Wrigley Building became the pioneer structure in the development of the north Michigan Avenue business district.

The architectural shape of the Wrigley Building is patterned after the Seville Cathedral’s Giralda Tower in Spain. However, the ornamental design of the building is based on an American adaptation of French Renaissance style. Mr. Charles Beersman, chief designer for the building’s architects, Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, used his talent and imagination to combine the two concepts.

On November 11, 1920, the building’s cornerstone was laid for the southern tower. Office space in this part of the building was already entirely rented when construction was completed in April of the following year. In May of 1924, the north tower was completed and connected to the south section with walkways at street level and between the third floors. Later, in 1931, a 14th floor walkway was put in place.

Scale
The two towers, not including the levels below Michigan Avenue, have a combined area of 453,433 square feet. While the north section of the building is equivalent to 21 stories, the south section, with its clock tower, totals 30 stories. From upper Michigan Avenue, the distance to the spire at the top of this tower is 425 feet. The giant two-story clock in the south tower features four dials, each 19 feet, 7 inches in diameter. Each dial has an hour hand that measures 6 feet, 4 inches and a minute hand that is 9 feet, 2 inches long. These clock hands were originally made of redwood, but were recently refashioned in aircraft-grade aluminum to increase their durability. Because of its multiple dials and prominent positioning, people coming from all directions use the clock to check the time.

One of the most striking features of the Wrigley Building results from being clad in approximately 250,000 individual glazed terra cotta tiles, the most extensive use of terra cotta in the world during the time of construction. Each tile is uniquely identified in a computer database that enables consistent tracking and maintenance of each and every tile located on the building. The interior of the building contains extensive brasswork throughout each of the tower's lobbies, including the entryway, elevator doors and lobby clock.

Occupants
In addition to housing the international headquarters of the Wm Wrigley Jr. Company, the Wrigley Building is home to many other companies. Tenants include investment management companies, advertising agencies, marketing firms, a full-service bank, and foreign consulates. Over 1,300 people come to work each day in the Wrigley Building.

Lighting
The nighttime floodlighting of the Wrigley Building is one of the nation’s major commercial lighting displays. Illumination of the building is provided by several banks of lights, including 116, 1,000-watt metal halide lamps mounted on the south side of the Chicago River. These, along with another seven lamps at street level, keep the Michigan Avenue and Chicago River sides of the building brightly lit. West of the Wrigley Building an additional 16, 1,000-watt metal halide lights are used. To help create the effect of gradual brightness toward the top, 62 lights were installed on the building itself.

Except for the years marked by World War II, a three-month period in the winter of 1971 when a new system of lights was being installed, and nine months in 1973-1974 when an energy crisis called for stringent conservation of all natural resources, the illuminated Wrigley Building has been a bright feature of Chicago's evening skyline since the lights were first turned on in 1921. The decision to illuminate the building again beginning on August 17, 1974, was made only after assurances by Commonwealth Edison, the local power company, that this off-peak use of electricity would not drain any essential fuel from the city’s power sources.

For over 75 years, the Wrigley Building has been recognized as one of Chicago's most attractive buildings. Its sparkling white terra-cotta cladding, well-proportioned architecture and nighttime lighting have established it as of symbol of Chicago in many books, motion pictures and television programs, and is an unforgettable nighttime sight for Chicago’s residents and visitors.
Black_Dog, mikolaj_cava, mvdisco, Matylda76, amcolli, Poraj, black_dream, wilth, zhelach, vandana2923, szatanowska has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To billy-m: hiRedrubin 1 05-14 05:56
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Critiques [Translate]

Howdy Redrubin!
Original doors. Good POV. Good capture. Very sophisticated shot.
Regards!

Ciao Lucio! Very interesting place. Very interesting doors. Mysterious mirror. Perfect capture. Original work. Well done!

Bonjour Lucio Ciao,
Belle prise de vue de ces portes d'entrée originales et de ce luxueux édifice le Wrigley building, Excellente composition et détails de ces magnifiques portes très jolies et vraiment impressionnantes, Excellent POV. et détails,
Bonne journée mon ami..
Ciao Michel

Hi Lucio
very nice door and beautiful gold effect taken and shown in your photo.
Contrast and lightess is very good
Have nice day
Sabina

Ciao Lucio, vedo che sei attratto dalle porte dei grandi edifici americani, ed in effetti questa è bella ed elegante, grande architettura ed ottima foto, ciao Silvio

Hello Lucio
wow, it must be great building, this door look splendid-gold door, great sharpness and contrast, this kind of door inviting to come in....
ciao
Magda

ciao Lucio,
z³oto - gold->good details shown
must be interesting building; nice pov
great capture
excellent shot;
ciao;
K.

grande classe e ottimo dettaglio in questa fotografia
bravo e TFS
anna

  • Great 
  • Poraj Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 66 W: 0 N: 179] (736)
  • [2008-05-12 12:00]
  • [+]

Ciao Lucio!
Very beautiful gold door. It looks like very splendid and respectable building. I like specially reflection in the mirror (something like small ridicule at snobbery). Great POV, excellent light and colours.
Best regards
Robert

Una foto costruita con maestria e classe. Da grande arredatore.

Roberto

  • Great 
  • wilth Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 283 W: 36 N: 379] (1461)
  • [2008-05-12 21:10]
  • [+]

Nice capture of a difficult subject.
TFS,
Wilt

Hello Lucio!
Interesting doors and nice story! Good composition, beautiful colors, lights and details!
TFS, Ciao, Zorica

Hi, Lucio!

Very interesting shot and note. Beautifull doors, excellent work.

Ildiko

Hi Lucio,
beautiful architecture and designs.Good contrast between colours.Well done.TFS.Necla.:)later.

Perfect shot of this very difficult object !!
and you always give me some good lesson to read and learn
grazie:)
un bacione
biljana

Very nice take of the beautiful, golden ornaments of the building's entrance! Do I see you in the reflecton, on the door's window, with a red t-shirt? Is that red rubin taking the shot? :))))
Lovely colors and good, contrasting choice of frame!
Ciao!
Diana
(**)

Ciao Lucio,
Very nice pov and composition for this architecture.
Beautiful details and light. TFS
Vandana
later
ps: BTW, you came very close to the town where I live now.

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